The store is an absolute delight! The staff are so friendly and helpful. They will personalize your…read morepurchase perfectly. So much attention to detail goes into both of the shops. This season, it's even more important to buy local. Give this place a look. It will immediately put you in the Christmas spirit and make 2020 a little more merry and bright.

This is my happy place hands-down. Run by the amazing, patient and kind Audy, I discovered…read moreTinseltown on an emergency off-season Christmas buying spree for a local film and have been back every single time I've been in Ottawa. Audy also curates a lovely everyday gift collection next door, all of which would look perfect in my house. Audy, please open a Los Angeles branch stat!!!

I finally found those glass ball ornaments I've been looking for... right here under my nose! Mind…read moreyou, they were about $40. I shop in this mall mostly for the grocery store, and I often forget to look up from my grocery list! This Hallmark store reminds me of the old Curiosity Shop that used to be in the Farm Boy Market Square in Kanata, where the other Farm Boy is, and the Bulk Barn and LCBO are also located. This store also sells decorations, and offers seasonal specialties such as Christmas ornaments. TONS of gift ideas in here! Every once in a while I need a gift that is "general", with a card. Something to say "Thank You", "I appreciate it", or "get well soon". I'm entering this review as a place-marker for me, so that I remember to come back here. I will return.

My wife and I absolutely love shopping at the Hallmark Davis Agency in Stittsville. It is not the…read moreone closest to us but it is the only Hallmark store we have frequented for many years because of the incredible range of quality cards and giftware it carries. We are always warmly greeted by the friendly staff who strike the perfect balance between being so helpful if needed and allowing you to browse at your leisure in their store. The store manager, Carole, and her employee Sherry have become our friends over the years and they make each visit special.

So this Marshalls in Barrhaven opened up like 2 years ago in 2018, but I didn't even know it…read moreexisted until recently. When I first moved to Ottawa I lived in Nepean and went to Barrhaven all the time, but back then it was mostly fields, lol. So much development has happened since, but nowadays I am rarely ever in Barrhaven anymore. However, my husband and I were meeting some friends to check out a restaurant with a nice patio out in Barrhaven so we went a bit early to do some shopping...and what are my favourite stores?...Marshalls and Winners, of course (yes, we did them both, lol). So this Marshalls is in a newer plaza complex along with a Dollarama, the biggest Natural Food Pantry I've ever seen, an LCBO, Value Village, Costco and a few other businesses. I'm not crazy about the sprawling suburban plazas, where you have to drive to get from one section to another or you take your life in your own hands as you navigate the parking lots as a pedestrian, but I will endure them to shop at a Marshalls ;) So this Marshalls didn't have the best selection of merchandise. Yes, we are in the midst of the Covid Pandemic and I understand that they have supply chain issues, but compared to other Marshalls during the same time, I find this one rather lacking. I will need to go back when the Pandemic is over to see how it compares to other Marshalls locations during normal times (as my first visit was during the Pandemic). I liked that their Clearance Section was clearly marked, as this is always the first section that I shop ;) It's a big Marshalls so things are spread out and well organized, not like the tiny Urban Concept stores where everything is crammed together and organization is haphazard and weird. Like why is underwear right next to chips? Yes, I'm a city princess, but I hate "urban concept" stores! Anyway, if I'm in Barrhaven, I guarantee you I will go to this Marshalls, but I won't make a special trip to Barrhaven just to go to this Marshalls. Does that make sense? Lol.

The Glebe, and the area south along Bank Street, is a real trendy, upscale neighbourhood. The…read morehouses are expensive (a few million dollar homes, believe it or not!), the residents well educated and well-heeled. Plus, there are Carleton U students living there too, giving the area that urban chic, bohemian feel. So, it makes total sense that a shop like the White Box would flourish here. White Box markets itself as a not-your-ordinary shopping experience. They sell home decor items (furniture, drapes, lamps, wall-hangings, knick-knacks), bath and body toiletries, fancy baby and pet stuff, cards, gift baskets, etc. And all of it is high-end. No Walmart cast-offs here. It really is the kind of place you would shop for that person who has it all - but, only if you are made of cash. Parking is strictly street, but you can just ask your chauffeur to circle the block!

Y'all know I love Dollar Tree, lol. So recently Dollar Tree raised their prices again from…read moreeverything being $1.25 to now everything being $1.50. I get it, inflation and all. It's still a good deal and I like that everything is one price unlike at Dollarama where things are like up to $5 (and things aren't always clearly marked so sometimes there are surprises when you reach the checkout, but not here at Dollar Tree!) Anyway, this location is at the Nepean Crossroads Plaza. There's also a Dollarama in the plaza, as well as a Canadian Tire, and other businesses. There are also not one, but 2 chip wagons in the plaza parking lot. This Dollar Tree location is pretty good. It's fairly large and has a good selection of products. Like other Dollar Trees inventory varies, sometimes they have lots of something and sometimes you can't find that item at all. I think that's the fun of poking around. On my most recent visit, I spotted some American Apparel T-Shirts in a variety of sizes and colours. I also saw some probiotics drinks (teas and sparkling waters). Lots of free parking in the plaza parking lot.

Walked by Stomping Ground and decided to pop my head in as I saw sneakers. It's not just sneakers,…read moreit's a clothing and lifestyle store. Even though I didn't end up getting anything it's a really cool store with some nice quality items. Filson bags, backpacks, sunglasses, grooming products, candles, home scents, candles, books and blankets as well. They have an interesting selection of brands from Carhart WIP to Harleys of Scotland and back to Raised by Wolves. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. I had a long chat about items they'll be getting and there's some interesting things coming in for the spring and summer. I'll be back to check what shows up in the near future.

Easily, the most cool and trendy spot to buy clothing if you are trying to buy menswear. I have…read moresomeone who grab the Toronto area with lots of boutique options and a high-end stores available to me. I find the availability of luxury items in menswear to be extremely lacking in the Ottawa area, such as at the Rideau center, even at major departments center, such as Nordstrom. This store really has a great atmosphere, and a very relaxed atmosphere. There are a large amount of items, and they are all separated by color, which is a nice touch if you are looking for a specific color, palette and easy to plan a monochromatic look. I will say that the items are definitely more expensive. Expect to see things in a 200 to $500 range.

3 1/2 stars if only I could!…read more I love when towns take an old building (previous post office or whatever) and convert it to modern current day use. That is exactly what they have done in Almonte! This lovely old stone building has been converted to boutique stores and a crepe restaurant, for that perfect small-town visit, so close to Ottawa. In Giligalou you will find all kinds of bird feeders and seeds. They used to carry a long line of wood carvings by local artist Dave Card. The owner / proprietor is very friendly. the shop is a fair size. The crepe restaurant food and service is very good. The mall offers free parking on its own private lot. Who doesn't love a flower shop? It's like retail therapy for your nose (?) There's also a Crush Marketplace here, with a fairly good selection. Sharing the same parking lot is a stretch of plaza containing Dragon's Lair Beads, which is the main reason I have come up to this mall so often (to restock supplies for my hobby of making stitch markers) and on the way back to Ottawa, I often stop in on the Equator coffee shop, where they roast the coffee in the back of the shop. So, gather your girlfriends, or do a couples day out - and put Almonte on your list of places to go and things to do.

It's hit and miss here but I'm hard pressed to leave here empty handed between the spice area, pet…read morearea and candles! Great place for gifts. Small furnishings. The clothing area is overwhelming so I skip right on by that but... There is also the amazing beauty section. I also check out the end aisles for clearance items at the back. Why pay more? Parking is ok. It can get very busy any time of day, any day and shares the lot with other great stores. The lines can be lonnnnng and tedious. I wish they had more check outs open. Or self check outs. Staff always ask for my MAXX card. Does this really do anything when they scan it? I never return anything, anyways. Best part . Dog friendly! Thank you, Winners! Best advice... Bring your own bags. I bring a big basket and bags as those candles get heavy! The seasonal scents and decor are great! Also, if you see something you really like, grab it! It may not be there the next day!

We visited yesterday, a Friday between Christmas and New Year's Eve, and I have to say that I was…read morepleased with how bright and clean, tidy and organized it was. There are bigger Winners outlets than this one, but this one served our purposes for this visit. I was also pleased that Winners would allow refunds on items purchased in a different city. There's something about how the clothes are hung and displayed on movable metal racks that reminds me of Value Village and other such stores. It's not as cramped here thought.